THE TIMARU AGRICULTURAL AND PASTOR AL SOCIETY’S SHOW.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1088, 31 October 1883, Page 2

THE TIMARU AGRICULTURAL AND PASTOR AL SOCIETY’S SHOW.

[by telegraph.] [by OUR SPECIAL RBi'ORTER.] Timaru, To-day. The 18th annual exhibition under the auspices of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on the Association grounds, Waieti road, yesterday and to-day. The show on Tuesday was confined almost entirely to exhibition and judging of sheep and implements. The attendance of the public was very limited, and the few who did put in an appearance during the afternoon wore not long before they were glad to beat a hasty retreat in front of a howling sou’-wester wind and driving rain. To-day, however, the weather promises to be more favorable, and as trains from both N rth and South are coming in laden with passengers, the attendance at the show bids fairto be both satisfactory and remunerative. This year’s catalogue shows a considerable failing off in the number of entries compared to last year, the total being under 500. In a great measure this may be attributed to the fact that the Metropolitan show is yearly becoming 'more attractive, both in respect of variety and [the value of prizes offered, conao-

quently some of the hitherto principal If supporters of inor shows are all eyincng I > ajdisposition to concentrate all their ener- ® gies and attention in competing for the more substantial honors to j be won at the premier show of the r colony- There was a fair number of , entries in the various classes for sheep, < and amongst those exhibited wore some t veiy well-bred and heavily-wnoled ani- ; nials. The merinos comprised several i nice looking sheep shown by the N Z and A.L. Co., Joseph Pearson, E. E'wOrth 1 and R. H. Rhodes. These four were the i princ : p"d pvize-takera in themerino classes. Amongst the rams in this class the N. Z. j and A.L. Co. exhibited two very fine sheep, and Mr F,'worth ran the Company very close with a couple of well-bred and densely-woolled animals. In the Leicester class there were two very fine rams exhibited by the N.Z. and A.L Co., and also two shown by Mr A. Murdoch. The competition, however, in this was solely confined to these two exhibitors, the N.Z. and A.L. Co. of course having the bulk of exhibits, and naturally taking the lion’s share of the prizes. The Lincoln cla*s was very poorly represented, and there were only twelve entries in the Romney Marsh class. William G ant and Andrew Grant showed cood pens of fat wethers ; taken as a v.hole, however, the shew of sheep was not so good as one would like to see at the Timaru show. There was a good show of farm implements and machinery, Reid and Gray and P. and I). Duncan as usual exhibiting good ploughs and disc harrows. For the best broad cast sowing machine for grain and turnip and grass combined, Reid and Gray and P. and D. Duncan gave the judges some little trouble in arriving at a decision, both machines being so nearly equal in point of merit, and both also having several new end recent improvements. There was a good show of reapers and binders, and those exhibited had several new and improved appliances over those in use last season. The show of farmers’ drays and spring carts was only moderate, but amongst the more luxurious and aristocratic class of conveyances there were several excellently made exhibits, notably a very elegantly got up and well designed lady’s phaeton, exhibited by Messrs Evans, Grand! and Dooley. There was a fair show of washing machines, churns, etc., and also a good assortment of hardware, ironmongery, etc. The Christchurch, Timaru, and Oamaru barbed wire companies were each represented, and various methods of twisting wire and fixing on barbs was exhibited to the onlookers. This was a new feature amongst colonial exhibits, and the development of these industries naturally attracted a considerable amount of attention. There was but a small entry of cattle, but the horses are well represented, and amongst those shown are some old and well-known favoritesand prize-takers There was a very small showfof pigs, but the dairy and agricultural produce is fairly well represented. The poultry shown consists of seven entries, four different exhibitors only deeming it worth while to support this branch of the show. Next year the Association will probably see the wisdom of expunging this c'ass of exhibits from their catalogue, as the entries are yearly becoming less. On the whole the show is not so great a success as the one of the previous year, but still there are many good exhibits, and not a few novelties amongst them.